Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai has expressed his apprehension regarding the misinterpretation of judges' oral remarks on social media platforms. This concern was voiced on Tuesday, following an incident in the Supreme Court where an elderly lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at him.
The incident occurred a day after CJI Gavai faced criticism on social media concerning his remarks about a plea related to a damaged Lord Vishnu idol in Khajuraho. The court had dismissed a public interest litigation seeking the idol's reconstruction, with CJI Gavai reportedly saying, "Go and ask the deity himself to do something". This led to accusations of hurting religious sentiments and even calls for his impeachment. He later clarified that his remarks were not intended to disrespect any religion and were taken out of context. He stated that he respects all religions and believes in true secularism. He also explained that his original comment was meant to convey the court's limitations in intervening in matters concerning protected monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
During a hearing concerning the All-India Judges Association, CJI Gavai alluded to the potential for misreporting, stating, "These days, we don't know what will be reported and your client will be very offended". He also humorously mentioned restraining Justice K Vinod Chandran from commenting, saying he told him to "keep it to my ears only" due to the risk of misinterpretation on social media.
The attempt to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai occurred during court proceedings, with the shoe landing in front of the bench. The lawyer, identified as Rajesh Kishore, was heard saying, "India won't tolerate Sanatan's insult" while being escorted out. CJI Gavai remained composed throughout the disruption, asking the registry to ignore the episode, after which the Delhi Police released the lawyer. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) condemned the incident, calling it a "direct assault on judicial independence".
This is not the first time CJI Gavai has raised concerns about the misrepresentation of court proceedings on social media. In June 2025, during a roundtable discussion at the UK Supreme Court, he highlighted the issue of hearings being misinterpreted and shared without context. He has also previously mentioned instances where judges' comments, made in a lighter vein, were taken out of context and misrepresented.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, present in court, affirmed CJI Gavai's respect for all religions, noting his visits to various religious sites. Mehta also commented on the disproportionate reactions often seen on social media, stating that "every action has a wrong and disproportionate reaction".
The concerns voiced by CJI Gavai reflect a growing awareness of the impact of social media on the judiciary and the importance of accurate and contextualized reporting of court proceedings.
